Medieval Banquet at Dunguaire Castle
One of the better ye olde worlde style entertainments in this part of Ireland, the medieval banquet at Dungaire Castle is actually pretty good fun. It’s best not to worry about anything silly like historical accuracy, because that’s hardly the point, now, is it? After being welcomed with a goblet of mead, you’re seated in a satisfyingly atmospheric candlelit hall, with long communal tables. A (mostly) traditional Irish-style dinner is served—smoked salmon, leek and potato soup, that kind of thing—with jugs of wine left on the table to lubricate the proceedings. A live show follows, featuring song and poetry from some of the great Irish writers (none of them medieval, but remember what we told you about not worrying?). There are two sittings nightly, at 5:30 and 8:45pm, and reservations are essential as far in advance as possible—midsummer dates can get booked up. Dunguaire Castle itself is worth a look around; a tower-house-style late medieval castle built in 1520, it overlooks Galway Bay and was once home to Irish poet and wit Oliver St. John Gogarty. Outside of the banquet, it’s open 10am to 5pm. Dunguaire is near Kinvara, approx. 26km (16 miles) southeast of Galway.
One of the better ye olde worlde style entertainments in this part of Ireland, the medieval banquet at Dungaire Castle is actually pretty good fun. It’s best not to worry about anything silly like historical accuracy, because that’s hardly the point, now, is it? After being welcomed with a goblet of mead, you’re seated in a satisfyingly atmospheric candlelit hall, with long communal tables. A (mostly) traditional Irish-style dinner is served—smoked salmon, leek and potato soup, that kind of thing—with jugs of wine left on the table to lubricate the proceedings. A live show follows, featuring song and poetry from some of the great Irish writers (none of them medieval, but remember what we told you about not worrying?). There are two sittings nightly, at 5:30 and 8:45pm, and reservations are essential as far in advance as possible—midsummer dates can get booked up. Dunguaire Castle itself is worth a look around; a tower-house-style late medieval castle built in 1520, it overlooks Galway Bay and was once home to Irish poet and wit Oliver St. John Gogarty. Outside of the banquet, it’s open 10am to 5pm. Dunguaire is near Kinvara, approx. 26km (16 miles) southeast of Galway.
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